Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Users on the same VLAN report that their browser occasionally reaches a fake internal portal, and packet captures show one host sending forged ARP replies that claim to be the default gateway. Traffic from nearby systems begins flowing through that host. Which attack is occurring?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
MAC flooding
MAC flooding attempts to overwhelm a switch's table so traffic may be flooded, but it does not specifically involve forged gateway ARP replies.
B
Distractor review
SYN flood
A SYN flood targets TCP connection setup and would not produce forged ARP replies or gateway redirection on the local segment.
C
Distractor review
DNS poisoning
DNS poisoning targets name resolution records, but this scenario specifically shows forged ARP replies on the local subnet.
D
Best answer
ARP spoofing
ARP spoofing, also called ARP poisoning, uses false ARP messages to bind the attacker's MAC address to the gateway IP address and redirect local traffic.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: an active trunk can still block the VLAN you need
A trunk being up does not prove every VLAN is crossing it. Check allowed VLAN lists, native VLAN mismatch, VLAN existence and access-port assignment.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
VLAN questions usually combine access-port and trunking clues. The key is to identify whether the issue is local to one switchport, caused by the trunk, or caused by the VLAN not existing where it needs to exist.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
- Trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches.
- Allowed VLAN lists decide which VLANs can cross a trunk.
- Native VLAN mismatch can create confusing symptoms.
TExam Day Tips
- Use show vlan brief to verify access VLANs.
- Use show interfaces trunk to verify trunk state and allowed VLANs.
- Do not treat every same-VLAN issue as a routing problem.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Access ports place end devices into a single VLAN.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ARP spoofing — ARP spoofing is correct because the attacker is sending forged ARP replies that associate the gateway IP with the attacker's hardware address. That lets traffic on the local network be redirected through the malicious system, enabling interception or manipulation. Because ARP has no built-in authentication, it is vulnerable to this type of local-layer attack. Monitoring for inconsistent ARP mappings and using protections like dynamic ARP inspection can reduce risk. Why others are wrong: DNS poisoning changes resolver records, but the evidence here is at the ARP layer, not the DNS layer. MAC flooding overwhelms the switch CAM table and does not directly explain forged gateway replies. SYN flood is a denial-of-service attack against TCP handshake state, which is unrelated to traffic redirection on the VLAN.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
Discussion
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